Convertible chair



March 25, 1930. Y J. K. PRASSAS 1,751,600

I CONVERTIBLE CHAIR Original Filed Feb. 28, 1927 o n w I E m I. J: u h-FF N m N H v NHNM m\ Patented Mar. 25, 1930 JOHN K. PRASSAS, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS Original application filed February 28,

This invention relates to a convertible chair arranged for seating,lounging or sleepmg purposes. v

This application is adivisionof my applicatipn Serial No. 171,410, filedFebruary 28, 192

An object of the present invention is to provide a chair having a backrest so constructed as to be capable ofready and convenient adjustmenttoany desired position.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a chair so constructed vas to; be converted into a lounging or sleeping chair, with novel meansfor adjusting the back rest. 7

The above, other and furtherobj ects of the invention will be apparentfrom the following specification, drawings and appended claims.

According to the invention, the backrest is pivoted to the chair frameso as to be lowered into horizontal position. 3 A sprocket chain passingover a sprocket wheel in a rear leg is moved in a direction to raise theback rest by means of a spring connected 5 to the chain and to the chairframe. A detent, controlled from any convenient place in the chair,normally keeps the sprocket wheel from rotation, thereby retaining theback rest in any adjusted position. v

The accompanying drawings illustrate one form of the invention and theviews thereof are as follows: 1

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a convertible chair.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the chair in Figurel. Q Figure 3 is avertical section taken substantially in the plane of line"III+III ofFigure 2.

Figure 4 is view thru the sprocket and detent casing.

Figure 5 is a partial horizontal section on line VV of Figure 4. r

The drawings show a wooden armchair of 5 conventional outline comprisinga seat 1, back an enlarged vertical sectionalv CONVERTIBLE CHAIR 1927,Serial No. 171,410. Divided and this application filed March Serial No.263,228.

rest 2, side arms 3, legs 4: and horizontal frame members 5. q a r Whilethe invention has been illustrated in connection with a wooden armchair,it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited theretobut is equally applicable to other types of chair, such as upholsteredchairs'and the like. I v V The back rest 2 is pivoted to the rear legs 4of the chair at 6 in a, manner to be swung 5 from normal position, suchas that shown in Figure 1, to horizontal or any intermediate position. v7 Means for raising and lowering the back rest include sprocket chains7, each secured 0 to the back rest Qby means of eye-bolts 8 or similarfastening devices. The other ends of the chains 7 are connected at 9 tosprings 10,

the lower'ends of which are secured at 11 to the chair frame structure.

Arranged near the upperends of the rear legs 4 are casings 12, each ofwhich comprises side plates 13 and a rear end plate 14, which latter hasa slot or recess 15 formed in the same thru which the chain 7 passes.The front end, i. erthe end at theright shown in Figure l of thedrawings, is open.

In each of the casings 12 is arranged a sprocket wheel 16 disposed on astub shaft 17 secured in the side walls 13 ofthe casing. The sprocketchain 7 is trained over the sprocket wheel 16. Below the sprocket wheell6wis a vertically movable detent or pawl 18 having ahead 19, part ofwhich is wedge-shaped, to enter between adjacent teeth of the sprocketwheel. A'lower head 20 is formed with the detent. v 1

The detent 18 is guided by guides 21 and 22 arranged between the sidewalls 13 of the casing and apertured to receive the head and shankrespectively of the detent. A spring 7 23 is interposed between theupper surface of the lower guide 22 and the under side of the head 19 ofthe detent to urge the same upwardly into engagement with the sprocketwheel.

A lever 24 is pivoted at 25 in the casing 12 and has engagement with thelower head 20 of the detent. The outer end of the lever 24 engages theupper end of a vertically disposed rod 26, which rod is connected at itslower end to one arm 27 of a bell crank pivoted at 28 to the framemembers of the chair.

A horizontal rod 29 is connected at one end to the other arm 30 of saidbell crank and at its other end is connected to an arm 31 of a secondbell crank pivoted at 32 to the chair frame. Another vertical rod 33 isconnected at its lower end to the other arm 34 of said second bellcrank. The upper end of the rod 33 terminates in a knob 35, which, inthe present illustration, is arranged to reciprocate in a recess 36 inthe upper surface of the side arms 3.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The back rest, in the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, isretained in this position by engagement of the detent 18 and thesprocket wheel 16.

One sprocket wheel and chain and associated parts may be utilized ifdesired, altho two such are shown in the drawings of the presentapplication.

When a person sitting in the chair is de sirous of moving the back restinto a position either horizontal or at a greater inclination than thatshown in the drawing,

=- he depresses the knobs 35 in the side arms 3 of the chair, whereuponthe detents 18 are released from engagement with the sprocket wheels.

When this release of the sprocket wheels occurs, the springs 10 tend tomove the back rest 2 into substantially upright position. To overcomethis resistance, the person pushes the back rest 2 backwardly into suchposition as he desires to have the same, thereupon releasing the knobs35. The springs 23 then move the detents 18 upwardly into engagementwith the sprocket wheel 16, thereby blocking the back rest 2 in thatadjusted position.

When it is desired to return the back rest 2 to normal position, theknobs 35 are depressed, whereupon the springs 10 return the back rest tosuch normal position.

The side panels of the chair are hollow, with the chains 7 springs 9 andthe detent actuating levers within the hollow side panels of the chair.

The detents 18 are vertically moved by means of the rods 26, 29 and 33connected to the bell cranks and the pivoted lever 24:.

It will be observed that the mechanism for controlling the position ofthe back rest 2 is completely concealed within the frame of the chair,while the knobs 35 are readily accessible to anyone sitting or recliningin the chair.

The lever 24 may be connected to the detent 18 at any point in thelength of the same.

The knobs 35 may be placed in any convenient position in the chair armsin positions other than that shown in the drawings.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction may be varied through a wide range without departing fromthe principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not proposelimiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by theprior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A convertible chair comprising a chair frame, a back rest pivoted tosaid frame to swing rearwardly into horizontal position, a sprocketcasing, a sprocket wheel, a sprocket chain trained over said wheel andfastened at one end to said back rest, a spring connecting the other endof said chain to said frame below the axis of said sprocket to retainsaid chain always in mesh with said sprocket, a spring-pressed detentnormally in engagement with said sprocket to prevent rotation thereof, aplurality of levers arranged to rest said detent to allow movement ofsaid back release, a lever pivoted at one end to the sprocket casing andconnected intermediate its ends to said detent, a vertically disposedrod connected at its upper end to the other end of said lever and at itslower end to a bell crank, a horizontally disposed rod connected at oneend to said ball crank and at its other end to a second bell crank, asecond vertically disposed rod connected at its lower end to said secondbell crank, and a knob on said second vertical lever for actuating thesame.

2. A convertible chair comprising a chair frame, a back rest pivoted tosaid frame to swing rearwardly into horizontal position, a sprocketwheel, a sprocket chain trained over said wheel and fastened to saidback rest at a point below the axis of said wheel, a spring connected tothe other end of said chain and fastened to the chair frame below theaxis of said wheel, a vertically arranged detent having a headcooperating with said wheel, guides for said detent, a spring arrangedbetween a guide and the head of said detent for urging the same towardsaid wheel, a pivoted lever connected to said detent for moving the sameout of engagement with said wheel, and a pluralityof levers connected tosaid first named lever for actuating the same.

3. 'A convertible chair comprising a chair frame, a back rest pivoted tosaid frame, a sprocket wheel, a sprocket chain engaging said wheel andfastened at one end to. said back rest, a spring connecting said chainto said frame below the axis of said sprocket to retain said chainalways in engagement with said sprocket, a spring pressed detentnormally in engagement with said sprocket to prevent rotation thereof, aplurality of connected levers arranged to release said detent to allowmovement of said back rest, a lever pivoted at one end near saidsprocket and connected to said detent and to one of the levers of saidplurality of connected levers, and means operably connected with one ofsaid connected levers for actuating said connected levers to controlsaid detent.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, CookCounty,

Illinois.

JOHN K. PRASSAS.

